Police baton with rotatable crosshandle

Abstract

A police baton or billy having a short crosshandle extending therefrom to enable a high-speed sweeping motion and other defensive maneuvers of the baton. The crosshandle has a rotatable sleeve or ring which is gripped by part of the hand when the baton is spun about the crosshandle axis. A stationary portion of the handle adjacent the sleeve is gripped to decelerate the baton at the end of the spinning or sweeping motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A police baton, comprising: an elongated club having a longitudinal axis; and   an elongated crosshandle secured to the club about midway between an end and the middle of the club, the crosshandle having a longitudinal axis which is substantially perpendicular to the club axis, the crosshandle further having a gripping surface, at least a portion of the gripping surface being rotatable with respect to the club, a stationary portion of the gripping surface being of sufficient axial length to enable gripping thereof by several fingers of the user's hand for braking of club rotation.   
     
     
       2. The baton defined in claim 1 wherein the stationary portion of the crosshandle surface is adjacent the rotatable portion, and the rotatable portion is positioned between the stationary portion and the club. 
     
     
       3. A police baton, comprising: an elongated club;   a handle extending substantially perpendicularly from the club and having an end configured to fit against the club, the handle having a stationary gripping surface and a cylindrical shank portion adjacent the gripping surface, the stationary gripping surface being of sufficient axial length to enable gripping thereof by several fingers of the user's hand for braking of club rotation;   a sleeve rotatably positioned on the shank portion adjacent the stationary gripping surface, the sleeve being rotatable about a fixed axis which is substantially perpendicular to the club; and   means for rigidly securing the handle to the club.   
     
     
       4. The baton defined in claim 3, and further comprising a hollow mounting saddle fitted on the shank portion between the rotatable sleeve and the club, the saddle having an end configured to fit against the outer surface of the club. 
     
     
       5. The baton defined in claim 4 wherein the ends of the rotatable sleeve are beveled, and wherein a portion of the stationary gripping surface adjacent the sleeve is formed with axially extending depressions. 
     
     
       6. The baton defined in claim 5 wherein the shank portion has an axially extending threaded opening, wherein the fastening means comprises a bolt fitted through the club and extending into engagement with the shank portion in the threaded opening, and further comprising a locking pin extending diametrically through the mounting saddle and shank portion, the pin having a central opening therethrough to receive the bolt. 
     
     
       7. A crosshandle attachment for a police baton, comprising a handle having a saddle-shaped concave end for fitting against the baton, the handle having a stationary gripping surface and a cylindrical shank between the gripping surface and the concave end; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shank, the sleeve having an outer surface which defines a gripping surface which is adjacent and movable with respect to the stationary gripping surface; and means for rigidly securing the handle to the baton.